Process and apparatus for generating steam, &amp;c.



P-ATBNTED Nov. 1a, 1906. mm. HUNTER. PROCESS AND APPARATUSFOR'GENERATING STBAM,'&q.

LPPLIUATION IILED JAILZO, 1897.

FIG-.l

. L k r f m Q 1T M I at. M m u;

W. .m n 6 v &m 1 G n. n. a p 1 s i IT M UNITED sTATEs PAT NT oEEIoE.

RUDOLPH M. HUNTER, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

P ocEss AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING STEAM, as.

. Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 13, 1906.

Application filed January 20, 1897. Serial No! 619,993.

ing is a specification.

1 My invention has reference to processes and apparatus for generatingsteam, &c.; and it consists of certain improvements Which are fully setforth in the following specification and shownin the accompanyingdrawings, which form a part thereof. I

This application comprehends the employment of solid and gaseous fuelfor generating steam. or for heating purposes generally where intensetemperature is required with a minimum consumption of coal.

My invention is especially useful as a means for generating steam forocean vessels, and particularly for battleships, cruisers, ocean,passenger, and mail ships, &c., where high speed with small coalconsumption is desired. The advantage of lessening the amount of coalrequired is that with the same coal a greater distance can be traveledwithout recoaling, less cost for fuel, less ton-, nage, increasedcapacity for carrying freight, and less labor necessary to maintain theower.

The object of my invention is to secure all of the above results and atthe same time greatly lessen the danger to the furnacehands from overheat, which is great in the methods heretofore in practice, wherein thetemperature of the furnace-room seldom falls below 145 Fahrenheit and attimes reache In carrying out my improvements I first convert the solidfuel (coal) into gaseous fuel at a high temperature and then burn thesaid gas in the furnaces under pressure. As the heat intensity varieswith the density of a given gas, it is apparent that by burning the gasunder a high pressure a greater density is secured during combustion,with the resulting increase in temperature. To secure this increaseddensity, two things are requisite and necessary namely, to generate orsupply the gas and air to the furnaces under the desired pressure and toprovide means to secure a back pressure in the chimney or escape-flue tocontrol the "said furnaceressure. By

varying the initial pressure of t e gases, or the tion.

degree of back pressufe or both, the pressure of the gases in combustionWithin the furnace proper may be varied. It is essential to the propercarrying on of the process that the air to produce the combustion withinthe furnace shall have a pressure equal to or greater.

than that of the gases undergoing combustion to insure the proper supplyof oxygen to secure complete and perfect combustion. As an example ofthe eflicacy of this method -of burning fuel experiment shows that thetemperature of hydrogen burned at atmos:

pheric pressure is only 5 more in temperature than carbonic oxid burnedat atmosurned under a pressure that makes its density equal to thedensity of the carbonic I oxid at atmospheric pressure the tempera-;

ture or intensity may be increased .thirty times that of carbonic oxidburned under.-

atmospheric pressure. My invention com- I prehends the employment incommercial ape paratus of this system of consuming fuel, and

since it is not possible to treat the fuel while in the solid conditionit becomes necessary to first convert or transform it into gas; The gasis generated in a continuous manner under high pressure and is producedby treating coal or coke in a gas-tight chamber with compressed air withor without steam. This gas produced is a fixed highly-heated combustibleproduct and may have an initial pressure of about seventy-five poundsper square inch. It is admitted to the furnaces with an adequate sup lyof compressed air, preferably su erheated at or about the same pressure.T 's pressure is reduced in the I furnace by an amount equivalent to thedif-' ference between the initial and back pressurethat is to say, ifthe back pressure is J fifty pounds per square inch the reduction wouldbe twenty-five pounds-but the pressure under which the combustion takesplace would never fall below fifty pounds per I square inch. The effectof this is to not only increase the intensity, but to reduce theliability of the boiler bursting internally. In a system of this kind itrequires no constant attendance at the furnaces proper, as the valvesmay all be Worked from a cooler posi- Furthermore, the work of operatingthe gas generator or producer is very simple and requires neither greatexertion nor protection against excessive heat. I

IOO

My improvements will be better understood by reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a diagram in elevationillustrating my improvements applied to a steamship. Fig. 2 is anelevation, with part in section, of my improved apparatus. Fi 3 is across-section of same through one of t e boilers and furnaces, and Fig.4 is a sectional elevation of a modified apparatus for producing a backpressure.

A A are two boilers of any known typeand are provided with furnaces B.

F is the smoke-stack, which communicates with the breeching E of theboilers.

G is a blower arranged in the smoke-pipe to produce a counter-draft, soas to put a back pressure upon the combustion taking place in thefurnaces. This blower may be of any suitable construction and operatedat at any speed desired by an engine 9. Any other means for producing aback pressure may be employed.

I is a gas-generator and consists of a strong iron case lined withfire-brick and having near its bottom a grate 7c. Below the grate is theash-pit J, having a discharge-valve L, and provided with blast-twyers K,through which air alone or mixed with steam may be passed. The top ofthe generator is provided with a feeding-hopper M and valve m.

M is a gas-tight lid, which is closed tightly when the valve m is openedat time ofcharging the generator with coal.

A pipe N leads from the top of the generator and communicates at thebottom with a horizontal gas-main N, leading tothe burners of thefurnaces.

I is a gas-tight chimney-valve, which may be opened when first startingthe firein the generator. When this is done, the smoke passes into flueF, leading to the smoke: stack F. A valve or damper f may be used toclose the flue F when not in use. If desired, this chimney-valve I maybe dispensed with, as the generator may secure its draft through thefurnaces.

The steam-boilers connect with the steampipe S, leading to the marineengines S for driving the screw or other machinery. S

represents valves for shutting off either boiler from this steam-pipe.Steam may be led from this pipe S by a steam-pipe T, which enters theupper part of the generator, so as to be su erheated and then deliveredto the twyers by pipe t. A valve T may be employed to vary the supply ofsteam to the generator when used.

Q is an air-compressor and designed to compress the air to a pressure ofseventy pounds, more or less, and approximately equal to the pressureunder which the gas is generated. Air under pressure is led from thiscompressor Q by pipe Q to the twyers 6 5 K of the generator and may beregulated by a valve 9. As shown, the pipe Q ispassed through thegas-flue N, so that the hot gases shall heat the air before it entersthe twyers.

The front of each of the furnaces B-is provided with a burner P,consisting of a chamber into which gas is delivered from the gasmain Nand from which it is blown into the furnace, to ether with air from ablast-nozzle p, preferab y on the injector principle. (See Fig. 3.) Theair-blast is supplied from'pipe R, which in turn receives the air underpressure from the compressor by the pipe R, leading through thebreeching, so as to become superheated. The air to the furnaces may becontrolled by valves 1" of any suitable construction. The gas suppliedto the burners P is also regulated by valves n, controlled byhand-levers N Perfect combustion may be secured by properlyadjusting-the valves n and r. The general arrangements of thegas-burners may be greatly varied without departing from the operationdesired, that shown being illustrated'as an example of one manner ofconstructing them.

As it is desirableto provide means for. generating steam for operatingthe compressor at the starting of the apparatus, I provide one of theboilers with gratebars a, so arranged as not to interfere-with thegas-burner, and, further, provide the front of the furnace withcoaling-doors P and ash-doors P adapted to be made gas-tight except whenfirst getting up steam. In this manner the apparatus may be startedwithout more delay than to secure motive power. sufficient to compressthe air. Of course it is evident that a small auxiliary boiler mightbeused; but such is not necessary when the boiler is provided withauxiliary grate-bars and gas-tight doors.

In place of the means for producing a back pressure shown in Fig. 2 thatshown in Fig. 4 may be employed. In this case the smoke-stack isprovided with a series of valves G. The several blades or valves e areconnected and moved by a lever E. ,A rod or handle E connects the leverE with a weighted arm E, which has an adjustable weight e to tend toclose the valve against the pressure of the gases leaving from thefurnaces. By adjusting the weight 6 any degree of back pressure may besecured.

The operation will now be understood. The generator I being charged and.steam beinggenerated in the boiler, the compressor is put into operationafter the several parts are made gas-tight. Air is admitted to thegenerator under high pressure toproduce a gas exceedingly rich in heatunits. The high pressure of the air admitted to the'generator, causesthe carbon to become porous as a mass and maintained at a hightemperature, so that rapid production of fuel-gas is'secured. Under thehigh pressure employed .but a small proportion of carbonic-acid gasisroduced, and thisis racticall eliminated P f Y hydrogen andhydrocarbons.

when steam is admitte simultaneously with the air. By admittingsuperheated steam from pi e t simultaneously with the air the gas prouced is especially rich in heat units, since it will contain largepercentages of By the large and forced uantities of air admitted to thegenerator t e carbon therein cannot be cooled or chilled by thesteam-supply, so that the processof generation is continuous, and

- only a small-sized generator is necessary for a large duty. Thefuel-gases so produced are led by pipe N to the burners of thefurnaces,and here they are mixed with additional quantities of superheated airunder high pressure and thoroughly consumed within the furnaces- Thepressure under which these gases are burned may be equal to or somewhatless than the initial pressure under which they are admitted, and thisis regulated by the production of the back pressure. The higher the backpressure consistent with the proper initial pressure the more intensethe heating effect.

The. advantage of securing high tempera.

ture and maintaining it with surety is to enable high steam-pressures tobe employed, and thereby with a givenengine to secure increasedhorse-power or to reduce the size of theengines for a given horse-power.The

. use of high pressure in the combustion-chamher secures quickpenetration of heat to the water and rapid steam-generation, thusenabling the size ofthe boilers to begreatly re duced for a given-sizedengine. For a given horse-power not only may the engine be reducedinsize, but the boilers also, since the higher pressure secured permitsa reduction in, size of cylinders, and this reduces the volume of steamnecessary. In addition to these advantages the facility with which theprocess can be carried on and regulated is most important. required isreduced to a minimum, and not more than one-fifth the men heretoforenecessary would be required to operate it. The saving in cost ofsteam-generationis very great as regards coal, since every portion ofthe carbon is converted into the form of gas capable of giving off thegreatest heat units. No smoke is produced in normal operation,

' producing the greatest cleanliness.

Furthermore, the labor .myself to any particular pressure under whichthe gases are generated or burned, though they should be generated atover fifty pounds per square inch to secure the most advantageousresults.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a power apparatusfor steamships,

&c., the combination of two or more steam boilers each havingone or moregas-tight furnaces, a steam-actuated air-compressor for compressing airto a high pressure, a fuel-gas generator into which air is forcedcontinuously under high pressure, a fuel-gas-supply pipe leading fromthe generator to all of the furnaces and provided with valve devices forregulating the supply of high-pressure and hot fuel-gas to the furnaces,a compressed-air pipe leading from the compressor to all oi the furnacesand provided with valve devices to regulate the supply of high-pressureairto the said furnaces of each of the boilers, a steampipe from theboilers to operate the air-com pressor, a single chimneyflue connectingwith the outlets from all of the furnaces, a back-pressure device insaid chimney-flue to retard the escape of the products of combustion bya pressure less than that of the fuel,-

gas generator to insure'the combustion taking place in all of thefurnaces underequal.

high pressure, and steam-actuated power-engmes for driving the ship orvehicle.

2. In apparatus for generating heat, I the combination of means togenerate a fuel-gas under pressure, a compressor for compressing air tohigh pressure, flues to supply compressed air to the gas-generator 1nmsulficient quantity to produce complete combustion, a.

closed furnace independent of the generator, valved gas-supply-pipes forleading thehot fuel-gas into theclosed furnace under pressure, lines forleading additional compressed air at a pressure not greater than that ofthe fuel-gas into the furnace at place of combustion to secure fullcombustion of the gas, and a chimney-outlet from the closed furnacehaving means to create a back pressure exerted to oppose the escape ofthe products of combustion from the furnace of less resistance than thepressure of the fuel-gas while maintaining a continuous passagecombustion.

8. In apparatus for generating heat the. combination ofa generatorcontaining carfor products of bon from which to generate afuel-gas underhigh pressure, a compressor for compressing air to high pressure, finesto supply compressed air to the gas-generator in insufficlent quantityto produce complete combustion, a closed furnace independent of thegenerator into which the hot fuel-gas andadditional air are admittedunder high pressure to secure full combustion of the gas, and achimney-flue provided With a rotary fan for producing a Iro' draft tooppose the escape of the products of combustion from the furnace.

4. In apparatus for generating heat, the combination of means togenerate a fuel-gas by subjecting a body of igneous carbon in a closedchamber simultaneously to air and steam at high pressures, a compressorfor compressing air to high pressure, fiues'to supply compressed air tothe gas-generator in insufficient quantity to produce completecombustion, steam-pipes for supplying steam to the gas-generator underhigh pressure, a valved gas-supply pipe for admitting regulatedquantities of fuel-gas into the closed furnace, independent valvedair-supply pipes for supplying a regulated quantity of additionalcompressed air into the furnace to secure complete combustion of thegas, and a chimney-outlet from the closed furnace hav ing means tocreate a back draft to retard the escape of the products of combustionand insure the gases being burned under high pressure and in therequisite quantities.

5. In apparatus for generating heat, the combination of means togenerate a fuel-gas by subjecting a body of igneous carbon in a closedchamber simultaneously to air and steam at high pressure, a compressorfor com-' pressing air to high pressure, fiues to supply compressed airto the gas-generator in insufficient quantity to produce completecombustion, a closed furnace, a valved gas-supply pipe for admittingregulated quantities of the fuel-gas into the closed furnace,independent valved air-supply pipes for supplying a regulated quantityof additional hot compressed air into the furnace to secure completecombustion of the fuel-gas, means to heat the compressed air prior toentering the furnace, and a chimney-flue provided with a rotary fan forproducing a backward draft to oppose the escape of the products ofcombustion from the furnace and insure the gases being burned under highpressure and in the requisite quantities.

6. In apparatus for generating heat, the combination of a generator inwhich to generate a fuel-gas, a compressor for compressing air to highpressure, 'flues to supply compressed air to the gas-generat or ininsu'flicient quantity to produce complete combustion, a closed furnaceinto which the hot fuel-gas and additional air are simultaneouslyadmitted in regulated quantities under high pressure to produce completecombustion of the fuel-gas While under pressure, a chimney-flue providedwith a rotary fan for producing a backward or retarded draft to opposethe escape of the products of combustion from the furnace and insurethem being burned under high pressure, and power devices for operatingthe fan at variable speeds to regulate the pressure under which thecombustion is carried on in the furnace.

7. In apparatus for generating heat, the

combination of means consisting'of a genera-- tor having steam and airpipes to generate a fuel-gas by sub'ecting a body of igneous carbon in aclose chamber simultaneously to air and steam at high pressure in whichthe air is in insufficient quantity to produce complete combustion, aclosed furnace into which the hot fuel-gas and hot additional air areadmitted in regulated quantities under high pressure to produce completecombustion of the fuel-gas, a compressor for compressing the air to giveit the initial high pressure, a chimney-flue leading from the furnaceprovided with a rotary fan for producing a backward or retarded draft tooppose the escape of the products of combustion from the furnace andinsure them being burned under high pressure, and power devices foroperating t to regulate the pressure under which the combustion iscarried on in the furnace.

8. In apparatus for generating heat, the combination of a closed furnaceinto which the fuel-gas and air are forced under high pressure, and achimney-flue provided with a rotary fan for producing a backward or reefan at variable speeds tarding draft to oppose the escape of the.products of combustion from the furnace and insure them being burnedunder high pressure.

9. In apparatus for generating heat, the combination of a closed furnaceinto which the fuel-gas and air are forced under high and constantpressure, a chimney-flue provided with a rotary fan for producing abackward or retarding draft to oppose the escape of the products ofcombustion from the furnace and insure them being burned under highpressure, and power devices for operating the fan at variable speedsto-regulate the pressure under which the combustion is carried on in thefurnace.

10. In apparatus for generating heat, the combination of a closedfurnace into which the proper proportions of fuel-gas and air areintroduced under high ressure to produce complete combustion o the gas,means for supplyingfuel-gas under a high steam-pressure tothe furnace, acompressor for compressing the air to high and continuous pressure,means to heat the compressed air prior to being admitted to the furnace,independent means for regulating the supply of air and the gas to thefurnace in sufiicient uantities to produce complete combustion o thegas, and a chimney-flue having means producing a counter-draft to retardthe free escape of the products of combustion.

11. In apparatus for generating heat, the combination of a gas -tightfurnace into which the fuel-gas and air are admitted and burned underhigh pressure, heating-pipes for superheating the air delivered to thefurnace adapted to be heated by the gases burning in thefurnace, valvedgas-supply pipes for controlling the fuel-gasifed intothe closedfurnace, valved air-supply pipes for controlling the supply ofcompressed and heated air to thefurnace whereby complete combustiondraft to retard the escape of'the products of combustion from thegas-tight furnace.

12-. In apparatus for generating heat, the combination of means togenerate a fuel-gas under high pressure, a compressor for compressingair to high pressure,two or more gastight furnaces each provided withmeans for supplying air and gas under high pressure, in-

e supply of the air and gas separately to each of the furnaces from thecommon generator and compressor, and a chimney-flue common to all thefurnaces having means to retard the escape of the products of combustionsimultaneously from all of the furnaces to equalize the back pressure inall ofthe furnaces;

13. In apparatus for generating heat, the combination of means togenerate a fuel-gas under high pressure and temperature, a compressorforcompressing air to high pressure, two or more gas-tight furnaces eachprovided with means for supplying air and gas under high pressure, meansheated by the products of combustion beforebeing fed to the furnaces toheat the air while under pressure, independ ent means for regulating thesupply of highlyheated air and gas to the furnace to secure completecombustion, and a chimney-flue common to all the furnaces opening to theatmosphere having means to retard the free escape of the products ofcombustion to the atmosphere to simultaneously equalize the backpressure in all of the furnaces.

14. In steam-generating apparatus, the

combination of means to generate a fuel-gas under high pressure andtemperature by subjecting a body of igneous carbon in a closed chambersimultaneously to air and steam at high ressure the air being ininsufficient quantity to produce complete combustion, two or morefurnaces each provided with means for independently supplying gas andadditional quantities of air under high pressure to secure completecombustion of the gas, one or more steam-boilers heated by the furnaces,steam-pipes leading from the boilers to the gas-generator, heating-pipesfor superheating the air delivered to the furnace heated bythe productsof combustion of the several furnaces, independent means for regulat ingthe supply of the air and gas to the furnace,'and'a chimney-flue commonto all of the 1 furnaces having means to retard the escape of theproducts of combustion whereby the back pressure of all of the furnacesis simultaneously controlled and made the same.

15. The herein-described method of generating heat which consists insupplying to a gas-tight furnace fuel-gas and air both under highpressures, burning said gas and air under high pressure to securecomplete combustion and to increase the in tensity of heat, permittingthe products to escape from the furnace into the atmosphere, and actingupon the escaping products of combustion during their escape with anopposing draft to retard their escape and maintain a very high pressurewithin the furnace.

16. The herein-described method of gener ating heat which consists insupplying to a gas-tight furnace fuel-gas and air under high pressures,burning said gas and airboth under igh pressure to secure completecombustion and to increase the intensity of heat, permitting theproducts to escape from the furnace into the atmosphere, acting upon theescaping products of combustion during their escape with an opposingdraft to retard their escape, maintalning a high pressure within thefurnace during the combustive process greater than the opposing draft,and varying the cpposin draft to regulate the extentof pressure un erwhich the combustion takes place within the furnace.

17. The herein-described method of generating heat, which consists insupplying air under high pressure to a bed of igneous carbon in a closedchamber to generate a continuous supply of'fuel-gas under continuous anduniform hi h ressure, passing the fuelgas sogenerate -w 'le hot andunder the ini tial pressure into a gas-tight or closed furnace togetherwith a slight excess of superheated compressed air at equally highpressure, regulating the supply of and burning the air and gas withinthe closed furnace under strong pressure whereby increased intensity ofheat 1s secured byiincreasing the density of the gases under combustion,and causing the products of combustion from the furnace to escape at apressure greatly in excess of at mospheric pressures.

In testimony of which invention I have J. W. KENWORTHY, WM. L. EVANS.

